Browse out loud with Rockpools’ website

Visitors to executive recruiters Rockpools‘ website and microsite can now browse “out loud” using an innovative new device designed to make reading online easier.

Browsealoud, the assistive technology from Texthelp, reads web pages aloud for people with literacy difficulties, visual impairments or anyone that finds it difficult to read online. Its unique text-to-speech service reads website content aloud to users whilst simultaneously highlighting the appropriate word.

Rockpools is one of the first executive resourcing firms to use this system to improve online accessibility for its candidates and clients.

Nev Wilkinson, Rockpools managing partner, said: “We are constantly striving to make our services more accessible and to set the pace for inclusiveness within the recruitment industry and society generally.

“Adding the Browsealoud feature to our main website, and all the microsites we create for our clients, is just one of the ways we are improving the way we communicate with our clients, candidates and partners.”

Mark McCusker, chief executive officer from Texthelp commented “We are delighted that Rockpools has joined the growing number of organisations who are committed to making online accessibility a reality with our service.

“With over seven million people in the UK with literacy problems and over two million UK residents with some form of visibility impairment, it’s so important that online content is made more easily accessible for everyone.”

Rockpools recently became the first executive recruitment firm to sign up for the Disability Standard 2007, a unique benchmarking tool that assesses business performance on their disability confidence. The Standard was created by the Employers’ Forum on Disability, of which Rockpools is a gold member.